1 Fev
2 Leigh
3/4 Fax and Barrow

I'm interested to see how Leigh go.

1.Widnes
2.Leigh
3.Fev
4.Fax
5.Barrow/Batley

I think Widnes have more strength in depth in all postions.Players can also revert postions like Craven at fullback and Standoff.Varkulis plays prop,Secondrow, and centre if needed.Our youngsters are a year older with more experience. Fax will miss Royston,Branighan,Maloney,Tamghart, and Gleeson as they where key players last year. Jones,Greenwood,and others are no patch on them.Other players like Aizue and Gannon are passed their best.Widnes are also thinking of dual registration from Wigan and i feel confident this year of our prospects.

Only conceded 4 points away at Batley. We shipped more points against the CC1 sides for some reason. Possibly due to lack of intensity.

I think there was slightly more to it than that though AJ. Who knows how that season would have ended had the players been paid properly throughout the season and without the threat of administration hanging over the club once Vaughn pulled out.

I'm feeling very positive this year with the squad that has been assembled. I think we went about it in a very understated way but there appears to be genuine ability all over the park and quite a bit of depth in the squad.
SH has been the one position that for a while we have struggled with. I'm hoping that l'Anson can keep fit and make the position his own or that the younger players like Gilmore and Gore can push for a place.

Very few games under anyone's belt yet but the signs are promising that Betts has them well drilled and disciplined.
I'm going for a run to one of the top two positions.
As for who finishes where else? I have absolutely no idea, but I don't expect Leigh to drop away as poorly as they did towards the end of last season if they can keep Millward. Shaun looks certain to leave the Willers very shortly and Salford will be looking around for a new coach!

i played against hunslet the other day in the challenge cup and no offence to them teams like fev, fax, widnes etc should put 40 points on them they just look an average side.

Betts is from Salford originally.

Just sayin...

TBF I think he'd be MUCH better staying put, for numerous reasons anyway.

Fax look a bit weaker i would say but then again i dont think any team looks stand out either. I think we lost 3 key players from last season, Maloney, Royston, and Branighan. Obviously we can replace Royston with Fieldhouse and Greenwood, not forgetting that Greenwood was the best full back in the Championship before he got injured and kept Royston out of his prefered position. It will take a bit of time for him to get back to his best though. Maloney is a massive loss, probably the best prop in the league and in Gannon i dont think we have come close to replacing him but on the plus side we have a full season with Sam Barlow this time. Branighan im pretty meh about as Holroyd was prefered to him at the end of last season but on the other hand Jones isnt half the player Branighan is and the sooner MC sees that and has Holly and Black at halfs the better. Ive no doubt we have the best set of backs in the league but feel our forwards may let us down but maybe they will prove me wrong. As for the other teams Fev will be up there and still look pretty strong. Leigh talk the talk every season but will they ever walk the walk. Barrow and Schofield is a match made in ......erm.......hell. Widnes didnt impress me against Siddal and i wouldnt be happy with the amout of times Siddals hookers broke your line. But it was a nothing game so its hard to tell. I think Widnes will be in the top 6 but dont look as good as the main teams but you never can tell.

Siddal hooker never broke the line. He made a few good darts but was always tackled so half break at best, considering no Thackeray and a few others rested you can't really judge against a very strong and well organised Siddal unit we still beat by 50!

I saw Mr Fax comparing our score and yours

what divisions are they in? You only had to look at players physique to tell the difference. Also heard a lot of 'this is our reserve side' Hmmm... Seemed a similar mix to ours tbh.

Widnes are MUCH stronger than last year. Signed Tyrer & Ropati to cover weak centre area. I'Anson for 7 and at prop have brought Sculthorpe in plus have Puckersgill fully fit. You maybe in for a shock I feel!

Both hookers made a couple of good breaks where all it needed was someone on their inside when they went to pass. But like i said it was a nothing game anyway. Yes we had a lot of players out as did Widnes but i wouldnt go as far to say it was our reserve side and say it was a lot closer to our starting line up than i wished.

I know you mention those players but have you signed anyone good?

You mention weak centre area and i cant help but feel sad for Varks what the move to Widnes has done to him.